SHAKESPEARE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

SHAKESPEARE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

So far you have been trying to understand and relate to Shakespeare only through his play and his sonnets. To know him even better you need to know his world and the components that made it what it was. The Assignment 1. You are to choose one of the topics related to life in Shakespearean England listed below. 2. Create an 11 x 17 poster or collage that answers all parts ( a, b, c, etc.) of one of the numbered questions relating to the topic you have chosen. 3. Your information must come from at least 3 sources (books or articles) found in the library. You must hand in a list of your sources (an informal bibliography) with your poster that gives the following information about each source you used: Title of the book or article. The author and/or editor. The year in which the book/article was written. Page references or chapters that information was taken from. This assignment is worth 70 marks. You will be assessed on the following: Thoroughness how complete your information is. Visual layout. Completing the poster on time Your formal bibliography A. The Church 1. a) In paragraph form, describe the church in England during Shakespeare s time. Consider the following: What religion was dominant? Were there any other religious groups in England at that time? What was England s religious background prior to Shakespeare s time? Had the religion that dominated at that time always been the dominant group? Is it still the dominant religion today? How much political power did the church and its leaders have? b) Draw a diagram that shows the hierarchical structure of the church in England. In your diagram, name the titles/positions held by various members of the church, and indicate who had power over whom. 2

B. England: 1. a) Draw a diagram that shows the hierarchical structure of the government in England including: 1. Government & Politics 2. Kings and Queens 3. Country Boundaries Who held the most power within this system the king/queen? Members of parliament? Others? Explain your answer in a paragraph. b) In a second paragraph, describe describe the procedure for naming: i) kings and queens; and ii) other politicians. 2. a) Give an autobiography of the king/queen in power in 1600. Provide the following information: His/her date of birth and death. Date when (s)he came to power and length of reign. His/her family background: Name his/her parents. Name any husbands/children (s)he had, indicating marriage and birth dates. List and discuss three significant things that (s)he did as ruler. Describe his/her state of health Was (s)he a healthy person? What did he/she look like? b) What did the king/queen look like? Provide a picture. 3. a) Draw a map of England in 1600. Were there any colonies? If so, name them. b) Draw two more maps: one of England between 1000 and 1200 A.D., and one of modern England. c) In two short paragraphs: i) Name and discuss three events that caused the map of England to change the way it did between 1000 and 1600 A.D. ii) Name and discuss three events that caused the map of England to change the way it did between 1600 and today. D. English History 1. a) In paragraph form, list and describe major historical events that affected England prior to, or around 1600. Consider any or all of the following types of events: Wars Travel Inventions technology/science Natural disasters Diseases Note: The fewer of the 5 above-listed types of events you discuss, the more in-depth your discussion of each type of event must be. b) Provide an illustration that depicts one or more of the historical events you discuss. 3

E. Costumes Used in Shakspearian Plays 1. a) Provide illustrations of three costumes used in Shakespearian plays. At least one male and one female costume must be drawn. b) In paragraph form, describe the use of costumes in Shakespearian plays. Consider the following: Did actors typically change costumes during a play? Did Shakespeare s actors use make-up? If so, describe it. Who made the costumes? Were the costumes light or heavy? F. Daily Life: 1. Recreation a) Write a paragraph listing at least 3 sports and/or other recreational activities that were popular in the 15-1600 s in England. Indicate whether both working class and upper class citizens engaged in the same types of recreational activities. Explain your answer. b) Describe (in a short paragraph) and draw a picture of one of the recreational activities identified in a above. 2. Medicine/Dentistry/Sanitation a) In paragraph form, describe the medical and sanitary conditions that prevailed in 16th century England. Questions to consider: Was there a public health plan? What types of sicknesses if any were common? Describe common treatments given to sick people. What was the average life expectancy of people during this time? Describe dental technology did most citizens have healthy teeth? b) Provide illustrations that depict the medical and sanitary conditions prevalent in 16th century England. 3. Jobs a) Name three common jobs held by working class English citizens in the 16th century. b) In paragraph form, select one of the three jobs identified in a above and describe the typical working day of someone who held that job. Consider the following: How long was the average working day? What did this person do all day? Was this person self-employed, or did (s)he more often work for someone? Would this person likely have been male or female? How would this person have made a living with this job? Was (s)he paid? Did (s)he produce something that could either be used to live off of, or could be sold? c) Draw a picture of this person doing his/her job. 4. Do a, b, and c above for members of upper class society in 16th century England. 4

G. Fashion/ fashionable Standards of Beauty 1. a) In two paragraphs, describe a beautiful,woman in Shakespeare s England. Consider the following: 1. For women i) What did she look like? Was she fat or thin, tall or short? Did she wear makeup? How did she act? Did she speak out loud often, or was she usually quiet and gentle? Did she act femininely, or like a tomboy? What kinds of activities did she like doing? Was she intelligent? Did she work? Explain. ii) How was she dressed? Briefly describe fashionable dress for women in 16th century England. b) Draw a picture of a beautiful, fashionable worman. 2. Do a and b above for a handsome, fashionable man. H. The Arts 1. a) In paragraph form, list and describe three varieties of art that were popular in 16th century England. Choose from a variety of art forms: painting, sculpture, music, the theatre, literature, etc. b) In paragraph form, identify one popular British artist of the period (except Shakespeare!!) and provide a brief biography that includes mention of some of his/her more famous works. c) Provide illustration(s) of works produced by British artists that were popular in16th century England. I. Witchcraft 1. a) In paragraph form describe how witches were treated in 16th century England. b) Provide excerpts from 16th century books written about witches or with testimony at trials (this does not need to be from England) c) Provide illustration(s) of 16th century witches and how they were treated in society. 5

Research Marking Sheet Name: Thoroughness how complete your infomation is Did you answer all the questions thoroughly? Did you provide a picture? Colour, appropriate? Did you do it on a 11 x 17 (or larger sheet) Visual Layout Did you layout the elements with some type of purpose? Did you use colour with your pictures? Did you draw, or photocopy pictures? Is your explanation typed or hand written very neatly? Completing the poster on time and use of Classtime Did you make good use of your time in class? Was the poster in on the required date? /25 /25 /10 Informal Bibliography Did you include one? Did you have at least 3 sources? Did each source include: Title of the book or article? The author and/or editor? The year in which the book/article was taken from? Page references or chapters /10 Total /70 6